Villa name Lambert as boss

Former Norwich boss Paul Lambert has been confirmed as the new Aston Villa manager.

Lambert resigned from his position at Carrow Road earlier this week amid reports that Norwich City had denied Villa permission to approach their highly-successful Scottish manager. Lambert left Colchester in August 2009 after his side had beaten Norwich 7-1 on the opening day and he guided the club to back-to-back promotions before the Canaries achieved a creditable 12th-placed finish in the Premier League last term. Villa fans sang 'Paul Lambert's Claret and Blue Army' at him when Villa lost at Norwich on the last day of the season with Alex McLeish sacked shortly after the campaign came to a disappointing end. Villa had been edging closer to an announcement after negotiations over compensation and which key members of Lambert's backroom staff would be following him from Norfolk. It is understood that the 42-year-old ex-Celtic and Borussia Dortmund star will sign a three-year deal and bring assistant Ian Culverhouse with him to Villa Park.